Post by Asphyxia on Sept 11, 2009 22:29:23 GMT -5
Wolf Species/Subspecies
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Gray Wolf (Timber Wolf)
Canis lupus[/size]
Average Height: 26-38", though it varies.
Average Weight: Varies largely.
Length(nose to tail): 4.5 Ft to 6.5 Ft.
Coat Colors: Natural colors, ranging the spectrum from browns, whites, grays, reds and blacks.
Mating: With mating, the higher the latitude, the later in the year it will occur, though it typically occurs between January and April.
FUN FACTS: The Gray Wolf is also known as the Timber Wolf. They're known as the largest member of the Canidae family, with stamina built for long-distance traveling. Their paws are built for treading all terrain, with a two layered coat for varying weather.[/size]
Arctic Wolf (Polar Wolf/White Wolf)
Canis lupus arctos[/size]
Average Height: 26-31"
Average Weight: Usually over a 100 lbs, some full-grown males have been observed at 175 lbs.
Length(nose to tail): 3 Ft to 6 Ft.
Coat Colors: Usually a white or creamy color, helping the wolf to camouflage itself in the cold white winters.
Mating: While mating generally occurs in the same time spectrum as that of the Gray Wolf, the mother doesn't tend to give birth until late May to early June, about a month later then the Gray Wolves.
FUN FACTS: The Arctic Wolf is also known as the Polar Wolf and the White Wolf. They are able to withstand sub-zero temperatures for years. They can also survive up to five months of absolute darkness a year, and can live weeks without food. The Arctic Wolf is one of the few mammals that can withstand the conditions of weather.[Pasted from Wikipedia][/i]
Red Wolf
Canis rufus[/size]
Average Height: 15-26"
Average Weight: 50-90 lbs.
Length (nose to tail): 4.5-5.5 ft.
Coat Colors: Red wolves appear in a variety of colors, from deep browns to light cinnamons and every shade in between, usually with gray or black down the back and tail, and white fur around the muzzle. Black individuals have been recorded but are incredibly rare.
Mating: Red wolves reach maturity between 1 and 2 years of age, their mating season generally taking place in February and March. The mother carries her litter for approximately two months.
FUN FACTS: The Red Wolf's ears help to dissipate heat in hot and humid climates.[/size]
Ethiopian Wolf
Canis simensis[/size]
Average Height: 15-23" with the males being significantly larger than females.
Average Weight: 20-45 lbs.
Length (nose to tail): 4-5 ft.
Coat Colors: The body color is an overall reddish-gold while the underbelly is white or cream, darker markings present on the tail and paws.
Mating: Mating season occurs in the late winter and, unlike many other wolf species, the mother is not monogomous and may have pups in the same litter with different fathers. She carries her pups for about 8 weeks before giving birth in the spring.
FUN FACTS: The Ethiopian Wolf is also known as Abyssinian Wolf, Abyssinian Fox, Red Jackal, Simien Fox, or Simien Jackal. They are primarily a solitary hunter of rodents.[/size]
Mexican Wolf
Canis lupus balleyi[/size]
Average Height: 26-32"
Average Weight: 60-90 lbs.
Length(nose to tail): 4-5 ft.
Coat Colors: Mexican wolves generally have grizzled coats, with gray, black, and brown fur covering the upper portion of their bodies, and blonde or white fur on the legs and belly. Unlike gray wolves, Mexican wolves cannot be solid black or white.
Mating: They breed through the same time period as the gray wolf, carrying their litters for 2 months, their litters averaging 4-6 pups.
FUN FACTS: The Mexican Wolf is known as one of the most genetically distinct subspecies of the Gray Wolf and one of the smallest subspecies.[/size]
Maned Wolf
Chrysocyon brachyurus[/size]
Average Height: 29-36", the maned wolf possessing unusually long legs in proportion to the rest of its body.
Average Weight: 40-60 lbs.
Length (nose to tail): 3.5-4.5"
Coat Colors: Fur ranges from a deep reddish-brown to a golden orange on the side with long black legs and a distinctive black ruff. The coat is further marked by white or cream around the ears, beneath the chin, and at the tip of the tail, giving it a very fox-like appearance.
Mating: When the wolves reach maturity at 1 year, the mating season usually lasts from November to February, meaning that the time of birth for litters, carried for 60-65 days, ranges anywhere from January to April.
FUN FACTS: Maned Wolves are often found in open and semi-open habitats. They are one of the largest canid in America and have earned the nickname "Skunk Wolf", a distinct odor to the Maned Wolf. Despite the name, however, maned wolves are not actually a true wolf, but a different species entirely.[/size]
Coyote[/size][/u][/color]
Coyote
Canis latrans[/size]
Average Height: 15-20"
Average Weight: 15-50 lbs.
Length(nose to tail): 3.5-5 ft.
Coat Colors: The color of a coyote varies largely depending on region: the hotter the climate, the lighter a coyote's fur, and vice versa. Generally, a coyote appears in many of the same colors as a gray wolf--including black and white, though they are most commonly shades of red or gray--though they almost always possess a black stripe down their backs regardless of coat color.
Mating: The reproductive cycle for coyotes is nearly identical to that of gray wolves, the main difference being that coyotes mature quicker and usually give birth to much larger litters.
FUN FACTS: Also known as the American Jackal or Prairie Wolf. They are known for having a greater ability to adapt than the wolf. Their scientific name means 'barking dog'.[/size]
African Wild Dog[/size][/u][/color]
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus[/size]
Average Height: Usually about 30" at the shoulder.
Average Weight: 37-79 pounds
Length(nose to tail): About 40 inches(100 cm), with a tail length of 12-18 inches(30-45 cm)
Coat Colors: Typically, their coat is very splotchy with tans or yellows and black and white.
Mating: They reach sexual maturity at 12-18 months old. Litters can contain anywhere from 2-19 pups, however, 10 is most average.
FUN FACTS: They are also known as the Painted Hunting Dog, African Hunting Dog, the Cape Hunting Dog, the Spotted Dog, or the Painted Wolf in English, Wildehond in Afrikaans, and Mbwa mwitu in Swahili. They are the only canid species to lack the dewclaws on the forelegs.[/size][/i]
Dingo[/size][/color]
Dingo
Canis lupus dingo[/size]
Average Height: 20-23" tall at the shoulders.
Average Weight: 28-59 pounds.
Length(nose to tail): 117-124cm from nose tip to tail tip.
Coat Colors: Usually tan or yellowish in color. White is rare.
Mating: Females are sexually mature by 2 years, while males are usually mature somewhere from 1-3 years. One to ten pups per litter is often viewed, though five is the most common.
FUN FACTS: The Dingo was a domestic dog which had reverted back to wild state for thousands of years. A dingo may be referred to most other wild dogs. The Dingo is classed as a separate species from both dog and wolf. White dingoes are rare.[/size][/i]
Fox[/size][/color]
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes[/size]
Average Height: --
Average Weight: 7-17 pounds. Very large Red Foxes have been recorded at 31 pounds.
Length(nose to tail): 18-35" with a tail length of 12-22".
Coat Colors: Very typically red and white, though some have been spotted as more of an orange color and the Silver Fox is a gray morph of the Red Fox.
Mating: An average litter is five kits, though they have gotten as large as 13 kits. The males typically supply food to the pregnant and nursing mothers.
FUN FACTS: The Silver Fox is a gray morph of the Red Fox. "In Japan, foxes, known as kitsune, are considered as gods of farming or messengers of the god of farming possibly because they prey on rodents that destroy harvests."[/size][/i]
Arctic Fox
Vulpes lagopus[/size]
Average Height: 9-11" at the shoulder.
Average Weight: 7-21 pounds.
Length(nose to tail): Averages at 33".
Coat Colors: White in winter to blend with the snow, though in summer, they can morph to a brown.
Mating: Litters tend to average 5-8 pups but may be as many as 25. Both the mother and father raise their young together.
FUN FACTS:Also known as the White Fox or Snow Fox. The Arctic fox has very keen hearing which enables them to precisely locate the position of prey in the snow.[/size][/i]
Swift Fox
Vulpes velox[/size]
Average Height: Approximately 12" in height.
Average Weight: Ranges from 5-7 pounds.
Length(nose to tail): 31" long, measuring from nose to tail tip.
Coat Colors: Orange-tan, often with bits of white or black markings along the legs, snout or tip of the tail.
Mating: Two-six kits are born, though the their breeding season varies with regions.
FUN FACTS: The Swift Fox is an omnivore, eating grasses, fruits, small mammals and insects. Their lifespan is only three-six years.[/size]
Fennec Fox
Vulpes zerda[/size]
Average Height: --
Average Weight: Averages at 3 pounds.
Length(nose to tail): 16", nose to tail tip.
Coat Colors: Typically a sandy color.
Mating: The female keeps males out of the den until the young are older and often only has 2-5 kits.
FUN FACTS: Fennec Foxes are nocturnal, their ears can be up to 6" long. Their ears are sensitive enough to hear large insects like beetles or locusts walking on sand. Those over-sized ears are also for keeping them cool. They, like the Swift Fox, are omnivores, however, their diet includes bird eggs and birds.[/size]
Dogs[/size][/color]
Dogs
Canis lupus familiaris[/size]
We accept all breeds of domesticated CANINE (only canines), therefore, the information varies too largely for us to give an actual description. If anybody needs any information on any particular breed, they can pm Sighani or Asphyxia for information on that breed specifically or Google the dog breed. We are sorry, but there are well over a couple hundred breeds and there isn't nearly enough time or space for us to put them all here.[/size]
Resources: All over Google.[/size]
This will be updated frequently.
I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS: IF YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY OTHER CANINE SPECIES OR BREEDS THAT NEED TO BE ADDED, PLEASE SPEAK WITH SIGHANI OR ASPHYXIA. While we aren't going to go into full detail on EVERY breed of dog, if you feel there is a type of wolf or something else that we are missing, feel free to shoot us a pm. If you feel you can add to the descriptions, again, feel free to shoot us a pm or leave a message in the Suggestions board.[/size][/b][/center]
